Cruise Over to Star-Crossed Romance for My Birthday

Good morning all! It's my birthday and I'm not getting older...I'm cruising! Not only that but I'm giving away a copy of my latest book (co-authored with Linda Wisdom) Great Escapes: Valentine's Day, an interactive erotic paranormal romance. Stop by and say Happy Birthday and follow the directions to enter the drawing!

http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/2012/04/cruising-down-lifes-highway.html 

Have a Blessed Day!

FFnP Workshops for May

\\***** Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged *****//

The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents

In order to ensure proper credit when paying for a workshop registration fee by PayPal, you must indicate what the payment is for in the message portion of the PayPal transaction at the time you pay. Thank you.

The Character's Arc -- Presented by Sue Viders and Becky Martinez

We all know that stories have a beginning, middle and an end, but the character who starts out your story is going to be a lot different by the time the story ends. Characters grow, change and develop over the course of a good book. How does that happen and how can you build a character that will fully develop before the reader's eyes? Why do you even need a character arc?

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=181

When: April 30, 2012 through May 6, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $15.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

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Werewolf Lore -- Presented by Eva Gordon

A two week seminar for writers who are interested in writing about wolves and werewolves in their stories but who want more background on the basic biology and behavior of real wolves. Writers will also learn why the wolf evolved from admired archetype to savage evil nemesis of man. Part 1. 1. Introduction 2. Wolf Natural History A. Basic Biology B. Wolf Behavior Part 2. 3. Wolf Lore in Europe and Central Asia A. Wolf as totem B. Wolf as enemy of man

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=187

When: May 14, 2012 through May 27, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $15.00 for FFnP members and $20.00 for non-FFnP members. Refunds / credits are determined on a case by case basis

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 Road to Success -- Presented by Anna Hackett

Short stories pack a big punch! They can provide a path into the publishing world, a way to build writing credits or advance your career as part of an anthology. Not to mention that in today’s busy lifestyle, readers are looking for convenient reads of the perfect length. So what’s the difference between flash fiction, short stories, novelettes and novellas, and why write one? How can writing a short story help with crafting full length books? Anna Hackett provides writers with the skills they need to write a short story: from structure to pacing, characters to conflict.

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=190

When: May 7, 2012 through June 3, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $20.00 for FFnP members and $30.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

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De-Mystifying Menage -- Presented by Louisa Bacio

How do you write a love scene between a vampire and a werewolf and make it believable? How about sliding a third lover into the common bed? De-Mystifying Menage explores the titillating combinations of sex with multiple partners. The course builds upon establishing basic chemistry between characters to developing realistic storylines to finally describing the acrobatic acts. Come prepared to build up a sweat writing, and leave your shyness at the door.

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=230

When: May 14, 2012 through June 10, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $20.00 for FFnP members and $30.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

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Rock Hard, But With a Heart of Gold -- Presented by Caridad Pineiro

NY Times and USA Today Bestseller Caridad Pineiro will offer tips on creating rock hard alpha heroes and how to balance their rough exteriors with a heart of gold. Caridad will also review the needs of such alpha heroes, namely, kick butt heroines who are strong enough to handle the most powerful man. The workshop will include a review of the two archetypes as well as examples of such characters from popular fiction as points of reference.

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=233

When: May 14, 2012 through May 27, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $15.00 for FFnP members and $20.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

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Sshhh...Your Character Has A Secret -- Presented by Sue Viders and Becky Martinez

Secrets are a staple in fiction. Just about any great leading character has some sort of secret he/she does not want the world to know. How can you come up with a secret for your hero or heroine and how can you use that secret to build conflict? Join two published authors and teachers for a week-long class who will introduce you to the power of secrets--from big to small--from old to new--and who will show you how using secrets can build tension, provide conflict and make your character much more believable.

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=236

When: May 14, 2012 through May 20, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $15.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

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Writing A "Good" Bad Guy: The World Of Villains -- Presented by Sue Viders and Becky Marti

Villains can be fascinating and sometimes readers will remember a good--or bad--villain long after they put down your book. How can you come up with convincing villains who are great challenges for your heroine/hero but who don't take over the story? What makes a wonderful villain and what genres simply love a good villain? What about a lovable villain? Join two published authors and teachers for a week long class as they explore the fascinating world of the bad guys and show you how to come up with "good" villains who menace without taking over your plot and overshadowing your real good guys.

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=239

When: May 28, 2012 through June 3, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $15.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.

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Edit the Life Back Into Your Story: Hands-On Techniques for Creating Emotional Impact -- Presented by Madeleine Drake

You started out with a great premise, larger-than-life characters, and a fast-paced plot. Your walls are plastered with goal-motivation-conflict charts and you could recite each character's internal and external arcs in your sleep. Maybe you even came up with a detailed outline before you started writing your latest masterpiece. But now that it's time to edit your rough draft, you realize your characters' emotions and personalities didn't make it onto the page, and the scenes that were so vivid in your head seem flat or rushed on paper. What went wrong?

http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=242

When: May 7, 2012 through June 3, 2012

Registration Costs:   

The cost is $20.00 for FFnP members and $30.00 for non-FFnP members. 

Star-Crossed Romance hosts Sapphire Phelan & Appearances by Me!

Good morning all! We're ending the week with Sapphire Phelan as she continues her blog tour. She's offering a giveaway so you'll definitely want to stop by and check it out.

http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/2012/04/guest-sapphire-phelan.html 

You still have an opportunity to win a signed copy of Heartstone and you've got two chances to do it. My alien kitten, Wookie, will be selecting a winner from the commenters at Starr Words  

http://starrwords.blogspot.com/2012/04/death-by-blank-page-lynda-k-scott.html 

and

Follow the directions at Preternatura Blog to enter the drawing.

http://suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-lynda-k-scott-wn-heartstone.html

Hope to see you there! 

Lynda

Interviewed at Preternatura Blog

 Hi all! I'm visiting the Preternatura Blog today and giving away a signed copy of my novel Heartstone. I'd love to have you leave a comment and enter my drawing ;-)

http://suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-lynda-k-scott-wn-heartstone.html 

Hope to see you there!

I'm visiting Starr Words

Hi all, I'm visiting Lizzie Starr at Starr Words. Stop by and leave a comment to enter a drawing for a signed copy of my novel Heartstone (US only) 

http://starrwords.blogspot.com/ 

Hope to see you there!

Last Chance to Register - FF&P April Workshops

\\***** Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged *****//

 The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents

In order to ensure proper credit when paying for a workshop registration fee by PayPal, you must indicate what the payment is for in the message portion of the PayPal transaction at the time you pay. Thank you.

Faeries and Dragons Along the Silk Road and Beyond with Jacquie Rogers' and Eilis Flynn

Faeries and dragons can be found in many places, in ways you may not expect. The names may change, but whatever you call them, faeries and dragons have been both kind and mischievous, good and evil, sometimes a symbol and sometimes one of chaos. We are going to take you a quick trip, starting with faeries for the first half of class, and finishing up with dragons.  The Silk Road we’ll be traveling goes all the way around the world, and we’re going to start in the most unlikely of beginnings: Hollywood.

When:  April 16, 2010 to April 29, 2012

Register: http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=86

Plodding or Plotting? --- Presented by Gail Gaymer Martin

Learning the techniques to create a page-turning plot includes knowing how to use hooks and good pacing along with a dynamic story and believable characters. You will learn the three-act method of plotting, using backstory effectively to bring to life complex conflicts and will learn techniques to avoid the sagging middle and to create balanced pacing that leads to a dynamic ending.

When:  April 23, 2012 through May 15, 2012

Register: http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=110

The Character's Arc -- Presented by Sue Viders and Becky Martinez

We all know that stories have a beginning, middle and an end, but the character who starts out your story is going to be a lot different by the time the story ends. Characters grow, change and develop over the course of a good book. How does that happen and how can you build a character that will fully develop before the reader's eyes? Why do you even need a character arc? How does it coincide with the story arc? Join two published authors and teachers for a week-long class as they take you along the ups and downs of the Character Arc and see how to make your character grow so that by the time the story ends, the final determination will be believable and inevitable.

When:  April 30, 2012 through May 6, 2012

Register: http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=181

Blogging at Romance Author Hot Spot

Good morning all! I'm visiting Romance Author Hot Spot today with my alien kitten Wookie. Stop by and say hi! I'm giving away a signed copy of my novel Heartstone so check out how to enter the drawing.

http://romanceauthorhotspot.com/?p=1603#comment-71181

Hope to see you there!

FFnP Chapter of RWA April Workshops

\\***** Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged *****//

The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents

In order to ensure proper credit when paying for a workshop registration fee by PayPal, you must indicate what the payment is for in the message portion of the PayPal transaction at the time you pay. Thank you.

Faeries and Dragons Along the Silk Road and Beyond with Jacquie Rogers' and Eilis Flynn

Faeries and dragons can be found in many places, in ways you may not expect. The names may change, but whatever you call them, faeries and dragons have been both kind and mischievous, good and evil, sometimes a symbol and sometimes one of chaos. We are going to take you a quick trip, starting with faeries for the first half of class, and finishing up with dragons.  The Silk Road we’ll be traveling goes all the way around the world, and we’re going to start in the most unlikely of beginnings: Hollywood.

When:  April 16, 2010 to April 29, 2012

Register: http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=86

The Five W's: Using Them to Build Your Plot -- Presented by Sue Viders and Becky Martinez

Just about any journalist knows about including the 5 W’s when telling a story, but those elements are necessary when building your fiction books as well. Who, What, When, Where and Why are all questions that need to be answered to come up with a satisfying novel. Join two published authors and teachers for a week-long class that helps writers learn how to take those simple elements to get a story going. Learn how to use them to develop plot and get your novel off to a rousing start.

When:  April 16, 2012 through April 22, 2012

Register: http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=178

Plodding or Plotting? --- Presented by Gail Gaymer Martin

Learning the techniques to create a page-turning plot includes knowing how to use hooks and good pacing along with a dynamic story and believable characters. You will learn the three-act method of plotting, using backstory effectively to bring to life complex conflicts and will learn techniques to avoid the sagging middle and to create balanced pacing that leads to a dynamic ending.

When:  April 23, 2012 through May 15, 2012

Register: http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=110

The Character's Arc -- Presented by Sue Viders and Becky Martinez

We all know that stories have a beginning, middle and an end, but the character who starts out your story is going to be a lot different by the time the story ends. Characters grow, change and develop over the course of a good book. How does that happen and how can you build a character that will fully develop before the reader's eyes? Why do you even need a character arc? How does it coincide with the story arc? Join two published authors and teachers for a week-long class as they take you along the ups and downs of the Character Arc and see how to make your character grow so that by the time the story ends, the final determination will be believable and inevitable.

When:  April 30, 2012 through May 6, 2012

Register: http://my.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=181

Today on Star-Crossed Romance

Good morning all! Today's Star-Crossed Romance has guest Elisabeth Naughton plus a review for her new book, Enraptured. Her publisher is sponsoring a giveaway of a copy to two Star-Crossed readers so make sure you stop by and say hi. Instructions for the drawing are on her interview page.

http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/2012/04/guest-elisabeth-naughton.html 

http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-enraptured.html 

We've got a BONUS for you today! The fantastic Lizzie Starr is visiting Star-Crossed Romance to talk about her writing. And she's got a giveaway too!

http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/2012/04/guest-lizzie-starr.html 

Good luck and have a Blessed Day!

Declaration of Arbroath

Today is the 692nd anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath... Scotland's Declaration of Independence, which influenced the American Declaration of Independence.  





The poet John Barbour lived in the 14th century and was a member of the royal household and his narrative poem on the life of Robert the Bruce is his major work. Here is a passage from that poem which expresses his views on the worth of freedom from oppression.

 Freedom

Ah, freedeom is a noble thing!
Freedom makes man to have liking!
Freedom all solace to man gives:
He lives at ease that freely lives!
A noble heart may have none ease,
Nor ellys nought that may him please,
If freedom fail: for free liking
Is yearned owre all other thing.
Nor he, that has aye lived free,
May not know well the property,
The anger, nor the wretched doom,
That is coupled to foul thraldom.
But, if he had essayed it,
Then all perquer he should it wit;
And should think freedom more to prize
Than all the gold in world that is.

Meaning of unusual words:
liking=choice
ellys=else
aye=always
essayed=tried
perquer=by heart

Some music to put you in the celebratory mood... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrNLm0w0mDs

Border Pipes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pvy9qu6JxI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tEdH0bjjR8

And bonny Scotland 

SW ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPdQW69bl4k&feature=relmfu

Scottish Borders.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvYQ8TovDOk&feature=relmfu

Mostly the Highlands... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQScQ3g4Gc

Snowy Scotland... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-_bYXOSvJ0&feature=relmfu

Links borrowed from a chapter mate.

Enjoy!

From Sourcebooks Publicity

Love the idea of travelling back (or forward) in time? Ever wonder if there’s some kind of connection between you and the past, or felt as though you belonged in another era? Then Sourcebooks has the perfect eBook deal for you: a collection of some of our favorite “timeslip” romance and fiction titles on sale for $2.99! The full list of titles is below. The sale begins, so check them out!

As always, please be patient if our online retailers don’t have every single title uploaded to their discounted price points, but the promotions are set to begin on the start dates listed below. These deals are available with all major e-Book retailers!

Feel free to share the info with your blog readers, on Facebook and Twitter, and however else you’d like to spread the word.

You can always receive the latest information about our eBook deals by checking our eBook deals page, which also lists our eBook retailer partners:  http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/browse-our-lists/ebook-specials.html.

Enjoy!

Danielle

Great Escapes-Valentine's Day Now Available!

Great Escapes-Valentine's Day is now available! 


Want a hero with a southern drawl? Blond or dark haired? Green eyes or brown? You can design your own hero in this interactive story. And you can adjust the amount of 'steaminess' to suit your own tastes. Linda Wisdom and I had great fun writing it and we think you'll have great fun reading it.


Great Escapes, by authors Linda Wisdom and Lynda K. Scott, is a new personalized erotica series centered on the guests of a quiet B&B in rural Virginia.

The heartbroken and lovelorn come to Great Escapes B&B in search of a relaxing getaway, only to embark on a weekend of sexual self-discovery, courtesy of the inn's resident ghosts, who bring to life each guest's deepest desires.

Just as the ghosts transform to meet the needs of each guest, Great Escapes leverages the Kindle platform to deliver what each reader wants. Do you like your erotica steamy or romantic? Your hero to have blue or brown eyes? Anonymously fill out your preferences, and we'll deliver the best version of hundreds of combinations prepared by the authors.

In Great Escapes: Valentine's Day, Rose's best friend gives her a weekend stay, where an invisible lover helps her to rediscover her sexuality. But will she open her eyes enough to see who is right next door?


http://www.amazon.com/Great-Escapes/dp/B007P4365K/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1332913900&sr=8-6